[Clinical features of 127 cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in Fujian Province].

Objective: to investigate the clinical features of 127 cases of the novel influenza A/H1N1 infection in Fujian Province.

Methods: this study included 127 human cases with the novel influenza A/H1N1 infection in Fujian Province from May 2009 to July 2009. Data were collected and reviewed from hospital medical records. The statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 11.5.

Results: the median age of the 127 patients (55 were females) was 21 years (range 0.4 - 58). The median incubation period was 2 d (range 1 - 12 d). The typical clinical symptoms included fever, cough, sputum, and sore throat. The duration of symptoms in patients less than 5 years old and in patients more than 5 years old were (8.2 +/- 4.1) and (5.4 +/- 3.0) d respectively, the difference between these 2 groups being significant (z = 3.182, P < 0.01). There was also a statistically significant difference in the duration of symptoms between the high-temperature group and the low-temperature group [(6.8 +/- 3.2) vs (4.8 +/- 2.1) d, Hc = 9.729, P < 0.05]. The duration of symptoms in the high, the normal and the low white blood cell groups were (6.3 +/- 4.7) d, (5.4 +/- 2.8) d, and (8.5 +/- 4.2) d respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant (Hc = 4.729, P = 0.094). However, the duration of symptoms in the higher lymphocyte count group was significantly longer than that in the lower and normal lymphocyte count groups [(6.8 +/- 3.3) vs (5.4 +/- 3.4), (5.2 +/- 3.2) d, Hc = 10.105, P < 0.01]. Chest radiography showed patchy infiltrates in 6 patients, and their duration of symptoms was longer than patients with normal chest radiography [(8.1 +/- 5.7) vs (5.6 +/- 3.1) d], but the difference was not statistically significant (z = 1.286, P > 0.05). 125 patients received antiviral treatment with oseltamivir and they all had a good prognosis. There was a statistical difference in the duration of symptoms between the patients who used oseltamivir within 48 h after disease onset and patients who used the drug beyond 48 h [(4.7 +/- 2.2) vs (7.4 +/- 4.1) days, z = 4.907, P < 0.01]. All of the patients survived.

Conclusions: the clinical symptoms of this series of patients with the novel influenza A (H1N1) infection appeared to be mild. There were several factors associated with longer duration of symptoms, including aged 5 years or younger, higher fever (body temperature > 38 degrees C), higher white blood cell count and lymphocyte count. The early use of anti-retroviral treatment with oseltamivir was useful in shortening the duration. The novel influenza A (H1N1) infection was a self-limited disease, and patients with no complications had a good prognosis.